Tool mounting device



July 30, 1968 J. w. DAVIS 3,394,765

TOOL MOUNT ING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1965 JOHN M DAVIS mvewrop M fM ' July 30, 1968 J. w. DAVIS 5 TOOL MOUNT ING DEVICE Filed Dec. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [I q J /6 2% wl A? 37/ \93 37 JOHN m (M V/S INVENTOR ATTORNEY-S United States Patent 3,394,765 TOOL MOUNTING DEVICE John W. Davis, Fresno, Calif., assignor to Orendorlf Manufacturing Company, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 513,042 Claims. (Cl. 172-753) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tool: mounting device providing a holder having a primary socket and tool mounting means receivable for movement between an operating and a releasing position therein with a retainer releasably receivable in the primary socket to block movement of the tool mounting means to said releasing position and an auxiliary holder interchangeably mounted and'held in said primary socket by said retainer upon removal of said tool mounting means and providing an auxiliary socket adapted operatively to receive tool mounting means smaller than is receivable by the primary socket.

Conventional tool mounting devices usually provide an elongated tool bar which is carried on a prime mover or other tool carrier, such as a wheeled or crawler tractor, motor grader, or the like. Such tool bars are normally adapted to support one or more earth engaging tools of a particular size. The tools provide upper shank portions which are received in mounting brackets on such bars and are secured thereto by bolt and nut assemblies or complicated retaining mechanisms. After even short periods of use, the tools frequently become wedged or the retaining mechanisms cold-weld together, making removal extremely difficult. Furthermore, even without these occurrences, the retaining mechanisms require special tools to effect the release and removal of the tools from their bars. In addition, conventional tool mounting brackets on such bars are of a size to accommodate only a predetermined type or size of tool. Typical of such earth working tools are the relatively large ripper attachments for deep penetration and shattering of earth or paving material which frequently employ mounting shanks as much as five feet in length. Accordingly, the ripper tool mounting brackets on the tool bars are necessarily much larger than is required for the relatively smaller scarifier tools and the like which are employed for operations requiring only shallow penetration of the earth.

It is frequently desirable to perform both types of earth working operations on the same job or general work area. Prior to the present invention, separate prime movers were utilized for individually mounting such ripper and scarifier tools. However, the number of prime movers available on any job is frequently limited, requiring that the rippers and scarifiers be used successively on a single prime mover. In the past, in order to modify the prime mover or other tool carrier for alternately performing such operations, the entire tool mounting bar had to be tediously removed and replaced with a tool bar capable of accommodating the particular tools desired. Such extensive alteration has proved time-consuming, difficult to accomplish in the field, and significantly to increase labor and production costs. It has been recognized, therefore, that it is desirable to provide a tool bar which is able to accommodate various sizes and types of tools concurrently or successively with a minimum of alteration and without requiring special installation tools or tool bar replacement.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved tool mounting device for rippers, scarifiers and the like.

Another object is to provide such an improved tool r: CC

mounting device having greater versatility than existing tool mounting devices. I

Another object is to provide a tool mounting device which is capable of being converted to supporta variety of tools without necessitating its removal from the prime mover or other tool carrier.

Another object is to provide a tool mountingdevice of the character described which enables such tools to be installed and removed quickly and conveniently Without special installing tools.

Another object is to provide a tool mounting device which utilizes a tool bar having one or more openings therethrough which are individually adapted to accommodate a variety of tools of various types and sizes.

Another object is to provide a tool mounting device which utilizes an adaptor which isreleasably receivable in the tool receiving openings in such tool bars for quickly and dependably accommodating smaller size tools than the tools ordinarily receivable in the openings.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will subsequently become more clearly apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a tool mounting device embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat reduced side elevation of the tool mounting device of FIG. 1 showing a ripper tooth with its upper shank end mounted in an operating position.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged transverse vertical section through the tool mounting device showing the upper portion of a ripper shank disposed in an inserting and removing position with respect to the mounting device.

FIG. 4 is a similarly enlarged transverse vertical section through the tool mounting device taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the upper end of a ripper shank in the operating position of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a transverse vertical section through the tool mounting device taken on line 55 of FIG. 1 showing an auxiliary holder within a tool receiving socket and including a scarifier shank mounted therein in operating position.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section through the auxiliary holder showing a retainer device therefor in operating position in a plane generally indicated by line 66 of FIG. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a tool mounting device embodying the principles of the present invention provides an elongated tool bar 10 constructed of a weldedbox section having predetermined upper and lower sides 11 and 12, respectively, and predetermined forward and rearward sides 14 and 16, respectively. The tool bar is adapted to be carried on a prime mover or other tool carrier, not shown, in a substantially horizontal attitude extended substantially transversely of the direction of travel of the prime mover. The tool bar is connected to the prime mover through any suitable linkage, not shown, for elevationally positioning the tool bar with respect to the surface of the earth traversed.

The tool bar 10 includes a plurality of pairs of suIbstantially identical, vertically aligned, upper and lower substantially rectangular openings 20 and 21, respectively, which have major dimensions aligned with the direction of travel of the tool bar. The pairs of openings are spaced longitudinally of the bar. A plurality of elongated rectangular primary tool holders 25 are individually slidably fitted to the upper and lower openings of the tool bar and provide opposite forward and rearward walls 26 and 27, respectively, and opposite side walls 28. The primary tool holders further individually include an upper flanged end or shoulder 32 which is rested against the upper side 11 of the tool bar when in operating position and an opposite lower end 33 extended slightly beyond the lower side 12 of the tool bar. The walls of the tool holders circumscribe a primary tool receiving socket which extends therethrough and has a longitudinal axis disposed in a substantially upright attitude when the holders are mounted in the bar.

The primary tool holders 25 are rigidly secured in their respective openings 20 and 21 in the tool bar 10 as by welding around the flanged end 32 and the lower end 33 as indicated at 36 and 37, respectively. A lip or protuberance 40 is provided integrally with the upper flanged end of each of the primary tool holders on the forward wall 26 and is rearwardly inwardly extended into the primary socket 35. An integral boss 42 is provided at the lower end 33 of each of the tool holders on the rearward wall 27 thereof and extended into the primary tool receiving socket in downwardly offset opposed relation to the protuberance. The boss provides a substantially fiat reaction surface 44 in spaced, substantially parallel relation to the forward wall 26, and said surface and wall define therebetween a tool receiving passage 46.

As best shown in FIG. 2, an elongated ripper tool is adapted to be mounted in each of the primary sockets 35 in the tool bar 10. The ripper tool provides a lower end 52 curved forwardly in the direction of tool movement for mounting a replaceable tooth and guard assembly 54 and an opposite upwardly extended shank 56. The shank has a predetermined forward edge 58 on the side from which the tooth is extended and an opposite rearward edge 59. As best shown in FIG. 3, the upper shank end of the ripper tool provides a plurality of notches 62 in the forward edge 58. The notches are each fitted to the protuberances 40 in the tool holders and afford a selective elevational positioning of the ripper tool with respect 1 to the tool bar 10. To install the tool in its holder 25, the shank 56 is initially receivable in the primary socket 35 in the inserting position shown in FIG. 3 with its upper end rearwardly angularly tipped with respect to the longitudinal axis of the socket. The shank is transversely rockable within the socket about a fulcrum formed by the boss 42 for movement to a substantially upright operating position, as shown in FIG. 2, with the notch 62 embracing the protuberance 40 of the holder. As shown, the fore and aft width of the shank is preferably substantially equal to the spacing of the boss 42 and the forward wall 26.

An elongated substantially rectangular primary shank retainer is provided having an enlarged head or handle portion 72. The retainer is of a size to be slidably received within the primary socket 35 of the primary holder 25 between the rear edge 59 of the shank 56 and the rearward wall 27 of the holder when the shank is in upright position. The retainer precludes any rearward tipping of the upper end of the shank so as to maintain the notch 62 in fitted engagement with the protuberance to preclude any relative longitudinal movement between the shank and the holder. It is noted that during operation, the forces acting against the tooth 54 of the ripper tool tend to maintain the shank in its operating position with the notch and protuberance in the described meshing relation and with the rearward edge 59 engaging the reaction surface 44 of the boss 42.

A plurality of elongated substantially rectangular auxiliary tool holders are provided for individually adapting the primary tool holders for mounting tools smaller in size than the described ripper tools 50. Each of the auxiliary holders provides integral forward and rearward walls 82 and 84, respectively, and opposite side walls 85 slidably fitted to the primary sockets 35. The holder is substantially the same size as the mounting shank 56 of the ripper tool 50 and similarly provides a notch 87 in the forward wall 82 fitted to the protuberance 40 on the primary tool holder 25. As best shown in FIG. 5, the auxiliary holder is constrained within the primary socket 35 by the retainer 70 in the identical manner as the shank end 56 of the ripper tool. The walls of the auxiliary holder circumscribe and define an elongated rectangular auxiliary tool receiving socket 90 through the holder having a longitudinal axis preferably parallel with the substantially upright axis of the primary socket 35.

The auxiliary holder 80 includes a predetermined upper end 92 extended somewhat above the upper flanged end 32 of the primary tool holder and on opposite lower end 93 terminating in the plane of the lower end 33 of the primary holder. A lip or proturberance 95 is provided which is integral with the forward wall 82 at the upper end of the auxiliary holder and is extended rear- Wardly inwardly of the auxiliary socket. The forward wall further provides an elongated recess 96 adjacent to the lower end 93. A boss 97 is formed integrally with the rearward wall 84 of the auxiliary holder and provides a substantially flat reaction surface 98 extended into the auxiliary socket in opposed relation to the recess.

An elongated scarifier tool 100 having a lower toothed end 102 and an opposite shank 104 is adapted to be interchangeably mounted on the tool bar 10 for the ripper tool 50. The shank of the scarifier tool provides a plurality of notches 105 which are adapted individually to embrace the protuberance 95 in the auxiliary socket 90 in the same manner as the ripper tool 50 and the primary holder 25 in the primary socket 35. The scarifier tool is similarly disposable within the auxiliary socket between a substantially upright operating position and angularly related inserting and removing position. In order to preclude releasable pivotal movement of the shank of the scarifier tool within the auxiliary socket and inadvertent longitudinal removal therefrom, an auxiliary retainer 108 is insertable into the socket behind the shank of the scarifier tool. The auxiliary retainer provides an elongated rectangular body 109 of a size to be sildably received within the auxiliary socket 90 between the rearward edge of the scarifier tool 100 and the rearward wall 84 of the auxiliary holder 80. The auxiliary retainer edgewardly mounts one end of a leaf spring 111 by a mounting bolt 112 screw threadably received within the retainer. The spring has a shoulder 114 which is receivable within a locking slot 115 formed in the side wall 85 of the auxiliary holder 80 and an opposite actuating tab end 116 extended outwardly from the auxiliary socket 90.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. In order to utilize the tool bar 10 for deep earth penetrating ripping operation, the primary sockets 35 are initially cleared for insertion of the mounting shank 56 of the ripper tools 50. Such introduction of each ripper tool is accomplished by tipping the mounting shank 56 thereof to its angulated insert and removal position of FIG. 3. In such position, the shank is easily slidable through the passage 46 between the boss 42 and the forward wall 26 of the primary tool holder. The shank is slid upwardly in such angulated attitude until the desired notch 62 is juxtapositioned with the protuberance 40 on the holder. The ripper tool is then pivoted in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, about the fulcrum formed by engagement of the boss 42 with the rearward edge of the shank. Such rotary movement causes the protuberance 40 to be received within the notch 62 to permit the shank to be disposed in its substantially upright operating position of FIGS. 2 and 4.

The retainer 70 is inserted behind the shank 56 of the ripper tool 50 to maintain the described meshing engagement of the protuberance 40 and the notch 62 positively to preclude any appreciable relative longitudinal movement between the shank and the primary holder 25. When the tooth 54 of the ripper tool is disposed in earth penetrating relation, and upon movement of the tool bar in its predetermined forward direction of travel, the

forces on the tooth tend to rock the mounting shank end 56 of the tool further in a clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 3. Such forces are concentrated between the protuberance and the notch and between the rearward edge 59 of the shank and the reaction surface 44 of the boss 42. Accordingly, during operation of the tool bar and ripper tool the forces are disposed in a direction tending to maintain assembly of the ripper tool and thereby preclude an inadvertent disengagement.

When it is desired to adapt the tool bar for operations requiring less earth penetration or the use of smaller tools for other reasons, the ripper tools 50 are readily replaceable by the smaller scarifier tools 100 or other tools having similar shanks. Removal of each of the ripper tools is easily effected by withdrawing their respective retainers 70 to permit rearward tipping of the corresponding mounting shanks 56 to their removing positions illustrated in FIG. 3. In such positions, the shanks slide easily downwardly through the passages 46 from the primary sockets 35.

The auxiliary holders 80 are then inserted downwardly into the primary sockets 35 until their notches 87 are aligned with the protuberance 40. Upon forward movement of the auxiliary holders, the notches embrace the protuberances in intimate meshing relation to preclude any inadvertent relative longitudinal movement. The primary retainers 70 are then reinserted into the primary sockets 35 behind the auxiliary holders to maintain them in the described upright locked positions illustrated in FIG. 5. The shank mounting ends 104 of the scarifier tools 100 are then inserted into the auxiliary sockets 90 in rearwardly tipped angular inserting positions similar to the ripper shanks 56 between the recesses 96 and the bosses 97. As during introduction of the ripper shanks, the scarifier tools 100 are rocked forwardly to their substantially upright operating positions by introduction of the protuberance 95 of the auxiliary tool holders into the desired notches 105.

In order to maintain the scarifier tools 100 in the described upright operating position, the auxiliary retainers 108 are inserted into the auxiliary sockets 90 behind the shanks 104 of the tools. During such insertion, the springs 111 are compressed against the retainers until the shoulders 114 are permitted to snap into the looking slots dependably to preclude inadvertent removal of the retainers therefrom. During operation, the forces acting against the toothed ends 102 of the scarifier tools tend to rock the shanks 104 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, to concentrate such forces between the protu-berances 95 and the notches 105 and between the rearward edge of the tools and the bosses 97 of the auxiliary holders. After use, the scarifier tools may be easily removed without any special wrenches or the like by compression of the leaf springs against the retainers to free the shoulders 114 from the locking slots 115. After removal of the retainers, the scarifier tools can be easily withdrawn from the auxiliary sockets 90 by reversing the previously described inserting procedure.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention has provided an improved tool mounting device which enables the dependable installation and removal of earth working tools without requiring special installing tools. The clearances provided between the mounting devices and the earth working tools insure free relative movement during insertion and removal while utilizing the forces acting upon the tools during operation to maintain the tools in the desired relative positions with respect to the mounting device. As described, the tool mounting device further enables tools of various shapes and sizes to be quickly and conveniently interchanged with a minimum of effort on a single common tool bar.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention,

which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool mounting device adapted to be transported by a tool carrier in a predetermined relative forward direction of travel, comprising a holder having a primary socket extended substantially vertically therethrough, said holder providing a forwardly disposed protuberance extended rearwardly into said socket at the upper end thereof; a primary tool shank of a predetermined size receivable by the primary socket for fore and aft pivotal movement between a predetermined upright operating position and a releasing position rearwardly pivoted therefrom, said primary tool shank having a notch for receiving said protuberance of the primary socket when the primary tool shank is disposed in said operating position to preclude withdrawal of the shank longitudinally from the socket and being disengaged when the shank is in said releasing position; a primary retainer releasably receivable in the socket when said shank is in said operating position to block movement of the shank to said releasing position; an auxiliary holder interchangeably mounted in said primary socket upon removal of said primary tool shank and providing a notch to receive said protuberance of the holder, said primary retainer being receivable behind the auxiliary holder to preclude withdrawal of the auxiliary holder longitudinally of the primary tool socket, said auxiliary holder having an auxiliary tool receiving socket smaller than the primary tool socket of the holder and providing a protuberance rearwardly extended therein at the upper end thereof; an auxiliary tool shank receivable by said auxiliary socket for movement between a predetermined upright operating position and a rearwardly pivoted releasing position and providing a notch embraceable with said protuberance in the auxiliary socket to preclude longitudinal withdrawal of the auxiliary tool shank; and an auxiliary retainer releasably receivable in the auxiliary socket when said auxiliary tool shank is disposed in said operating position to block movement of the auxiliary tool shank to said releasing position.

2. The tool mounting device of claim 1 in which said auxiliary holder provides predetermined upper and lower ends and a boss disposed at said lower end on the rearward wall of the auxiliary holder constricting the auxiliary socket so that in said releasing position with the auxiliary retainer removed, the boss provides a fulcrum about which the auxiliary tool shank is pivoted from said substantially upright operating position toward the rearward wall to disengage the notch from the protuberance, said boss further providing a reaction surface for the auxiliary tool shank when the shank is disposed in said operating position with the auxiliary retainer disposed in the auxiliary socket.

3. A tool mounting device comprising a holder having a-primary socket extending therethrough and a locking member extended into the primary socket; tool mounting means receivable by the primary socket and movable transversely thereof between an operating position engaged with said locking member and. a releasing position spaced from the locking member; a retainer releasably receivable in the primary socket when said tool mounting means is in said operating position to block movement of the tool mounting means to said releasing position; and an auxiliary holder interchangeably mounted and held in said primary socket in engagement with said looking member by said retainer upon removal of said mounting means and providing an auxiliary socket therethrough adapted operatively to receive tool mounting means smaller than is receivable by the primary socket.

4. The tool mounting device of claim 3 in which said auxiliary holder includes a locking member extended into said auxiliary socket, tool mounting means receivable by the auxiliary socket, and an auxiliary retainer releasably receivable in the auxiliary socket to hold said tool mounting means in engagement with said locking memher of the auxiliary holder to preclude withdrawal of the tool mounting means from the auxiliary socket.

5. A tool mounting device comprising a holder having a primary socket extended therethrough; tool mounting means receivable by the primary socket and movable transversely of the primary socket between predetermined operating and releasing positions, said tool mounting means and the holder having cooperative formations meshed when said means is in operating position to preclude withdrawal of the tool mounting means longitudinally of the primary socket and disengaged when the tool mounting means is in releasing position; a primary retainer releasably receivable in the primary socket when said tool mounting means is in said operating position to block movement of the tool mounting means to said releasing position; an auxiliary holder interchangeably mounted in said primary socket upon removal of said tool mounting means and including a formation adapted cooperatively to mesh with said formation of the holder, said primary retainer being receivable within the primary socket in blocking relation to said auxiliary holder to preclude withdrawal of the auxiliary holder longitudinally of the primary socket, said auxiliary holder having an auxiliary tool receiving socket smaller than the primary socket of the holder; auxiliary tool mounting means receivable by said auxiliary socket for movement between predetermined operating and releasing positions, said auxiliary tool mounting means and said auxiliary holder having cooperative formations meshed when said auxiliary tool mounting means is in operating position to preclude withdrawal of the auxiliary tool mounting means longitudinally of the auxiliary socket and disengaged when the auxiliary tool mounting means is in said releasing position; and an auxiliary retainer releasably receivable in the auxiliary socket when said auxiliary tool mounting means is disposed in said operating position to block movement of the auxiliary tool mounting means to said releasing position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1963 Wenzel 172744 X 7/1964 McMullen et al. 172--744 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,492 12/1901 Great Britain. 

